USA Today: Factory closing slams Ga. town

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-10-30-factorytown_N.htm

By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY

TRENTON, Ga. — When the yarn factory on Main Street announced this month that it was closing, it was a body blow to this close-knit community between two mountains near the Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama borders.

It's not merely that Shaw Industries Group Inc.'s Plant 76 is the economic lifeblood of Trenton and Dade County, its 440 good-paying jobs make it the county's largest private employer. The factory has been a constant here for some 40 years, changing hands from time to time but always providing economic certainty: It was where people went to work after high school, and the only place many ever worked.


By Kathleen Greeson for USA TODAY
Dade County Public Library branch manager Gayla Brewer helps Kevin Nevin with his résumé. He will be out of a job when Shaw Industries Group's Plant 76 closes.

Now the Wall Street meltdown is being felt literally on Main Street. The plant, which produces spun yarn for use in carpet, is closing in November in reaction to the housing slowdown and changing consumer tastes.

As the nation's economy worsens, workers are being laid off by thousands.

Georgia has been especially hard-hit. From August to September, this state shed 22,300 jobs, more than any other state except Michigan. Most of Georgia's job losses came in the carpet-producing region of north Georgia, says state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.

Plant closings in small towns have a greater impact than in urban settings and can alter the demographic fabric of a community, says Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. "Normally, the first people to leave are the young adults because they're the least vested," he says. "For others, leaving is a more complicated thing."

FULL story at link.

[Divernan]

1. An all white town which adopted the Confederate flag as its offical flag/strongly supports McCain

According to the Wikipedia entry, this small town is 98.09 % white. When the state of Georgia stopped using a state flag with the Confederate stars and bars on it, this little town adopted, without any objections from its citizens, the Confederate flag as its city flag. At the same time, the town decided to post a plaque with the Ten Commandments at City Hall. The town has consistently voted Republican and strongly supports John McCain.
With a median income of $34,612, sounds like these people would greatly benefit from an Obama presidency to get health care and a tax break. I suspect that in their panic over losing employment, they will cling to their Confederate flag, their Ten Commandments, John McCain and Saxby Chambliss with all their uneducated minds and bigoted souls. It will be very interesting to see how that town and county votes on Tuesday!

From Wikipedia:
"Demographics
As of the census<1> of 2000, there were 1,942 people, 800 households, and 574 families residing in the city. The population density was 632.5 people per square mile (244.2/km²). There were 843 housing units at an average density of 274.6/sq mi (106.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.09% White, 0.26% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,612, and the median income for a family was $40,450. Males had a median income of $31,354 versus $22,104 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,336. About 10.5% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.


Official flag
The old state flag is now the official banner of this northwest Georgia town. Officials of the city of about 2,000 residents coupled the declaration with a decision to post a plaque bearing the Ten Commandments at city hall. The former state flag was replaced in 2001 after considerable debate. But Trenton officials adopted the flag as their own without any public opposition. The city currently flies Georgia's new state flag and the United States flag outside the municipal building. A second flagpole will be erected for the new City flag.



Political Preferances
The city of Trenton has invariably voted Republican in United States elections. Concerning the current election, the city as a whole is strongly supportive of Sen. John McCain."

[Omaha Steve]

2. Great work

Thanks for the help. I had been feeling sorry for them.

[Divernan]

3. You're welcome.. I'm trying to register on USA Today so I can post the same there

where some of the citizens there may actually read it. And I really do intend to see if I can track down how the town votes. The article quotes citizens on how angry they are at the government and Wall Street. Maybe we can get Sarah Palin to give them a shoutout and say "How's that trickle down economy workin for ya?"

I really hope this thread doesn't get lost before it gets 5 recs, because it's a perfect example of how the GOP style of governing betrays all those impoverished fools who vote GOP.